Durbin Pushes for Year-Round E15 Fuel in Farm Bill

US Senator Dick Durbin is pushing for year-round E15 fuel in the upcoming Farm Bill, which could benefit Illinois farmers affected by tariffs. The House already passed a standalone bill to allow year-round sales of E-15 with a vote of 218-203. Durbin hopes this will increase demand for corn crops and financially aid those farmers.

The current farm bill has omitted year-round E-15 fuel, but the Senate Agriculture Committee is scheduled to meet Thursday to take up its version of the bill. The short-term extension of the farm bills expires at the end of September. Durbin believes that addressing some serious issues in the bill, like E-15, will be a priority.

The Farm Bill has struggled to pass due to concerns about handling the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). A one-year delay for SNAP cost shifts to states is included in the latest text of the bill. Modifications to department of agriculture programs addressing nutrition assistance, forestry, energy, crop insurance, trade, and international food aid are also part of the bill.